Investigation Guideline

Investigation Guideline
Product: Table/Bench Saws
Appendix # : 76
Date amended: July 2004
1. Introduction
A. Background Information
Based on the follow- up investigations of the incidents occurred between October 1,
2001 and December 31, 2001, the Directorate for Epidemiology estimated that about
38,000 people were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with
table/bench saws in calendar year 2001. Almost all of the victims (98%) were the
operators of the saws. Most of the injuries were to fingers (87%). The rate of
hospitalization was about six percent compared to the average rate of four percent
associated with all consumer products reported through the NEISS system. The major
hazard patterns for table/bench saws are blade-contact incidents, being hit by
stock/cutting material, and being hit by flying debris.
Contact with the operating blade occurred most often in different scenarios. The
operator used a hand to guide the stock/cutting material; lacerations and sometimes
amputations resulted when he failed to move his/her hand as it came into the path of the
blade. In some incidents, the operator was pushing the stock/cutting material and got too
close to the blade and his/her gloved hand was caught in the blade. Sometimes the
operator’s hand which was holding the stock/cutting material was drawn into the blade
when the blade jammed in the material.
Injuries as a result of “kickback” was reported with some frequency. Kickback
occurs when contact with the side of the blade is made due to misalign guiding of
stock/cutting material, pinching of the blade by stock/cutting material, over aggressive
feeding of stock/cutting material (beyond the blade’s cutting capacity), or blade contact
with knots or nails in the cutting material. If the stock/cutting material is held securely,
the saw blade of a circular saw will kick back. However, if the saw blade is securely held
as in table saw case, stock/cutting material will kick back with enough force to cause
serious injury to the operator.
Being hit by flying debris occurred when stock/cutting material broke during the
operation or the cut off piece caught in the saw teeth and was flung back onto the
operator.

CPSC staff is evaluating the current voluntary standard for table/bench saws to
determine if performance requirements can be improved to reduce injuries. Additional
investigations are required to provide detailed information on consumer behavior and
product configuration/characteristics that contributed to incident.

B. Product Descriptions
Table and bench saws are stationary cutting tools consisting of a fixed power driven
circular blade positioned below a table (Figure 1). Table saws stand alone whereas
bench saw typically rests on counter, table, stand, or bench. A bench saw that is fixed
to a stand is essentially a table saw. The difference between table and bench saws has
become subjective and both products are commonly sold as table saws.
A table/bench saw has a rotating handle for raising or lowering the blade. Guides
on the tabletop help to hold stock/cutting material while making cuts. The saw table
has a laterally adjustable rip fence to prevent side movement in the stock/cutting
material (that could lead to side contact with blade and kick back) during cuts and is
slotted to equip wood rest/miter gauge. The rip fence is used in the procedure
described as being a cut made parallel to/with the grain of the wood. A basic rip cut is
done by placing the stock on the front edge of the table, flat down and snugly against
the fence. The wood rest/miter gauge also prevents side movement of the wood during
cuts made across the grain of the stock (crosscut). The wood rest/miter gauge angle is
adjustable in order to keep the stock at the proper angle during a cut. The simple
crosscut is performed by holding the stock against the wood rest/miter gauge and
advances both the gauge and the stock past the blade to make a cut.
Certain cuts use the saw blade to produce a channel in the stock/cutting material.
These cuts are called dado cuts when the channel is somewhere in the middle of the
cutting material. They are called rabbet cuts when the channel is on the edge of the
cutting material. Dado and rabbet cuts require removal of the blade guard because the
top surface of the saw blade is required to make the cut.
Most power tools, especially stationary ones, are equipped with tool guards or
safety devices. Standard safety devices for a table saw are a spreader (prevents
cut/split or kerf (channel) in wood from pinching blade), anti-kick back device, and
blade guard. The most common blade guard on a table/bench saw is a long
rectangular transparent plastic channel that is hinged at one end. The blade guard that
covers the circular blade should be maintained so it slides easily over the advancing
stock/cutting material while still remain resting on the stock to maintain blade
coverage for the remainder of the cut. Past data showed that the operators usually
removed the guards when they did special cuts such as dado or rabbet cuts.

Figure 1
Table/Bench Saw

C. Specific Items of Interest
Incidents involving table saws require information on product, brand, model, serial
number, motor horsepower, age of product, as well as detailed information on saw
operation, the location of the blade guard, and the operator’s activities prior to and at
the time of the incident.

D. Headquarters Contacts
Natalie Marcy (301) 504-7329
Caroleene Paul (301) 504-7540

11. Instructions for Collecting Specific Information
A. Synopsis
It is important to describe clearly the sequence of events. Describe what happened
immediately before, during, and after the incident. Include location of the victim
relative to the saw, and a detailed description of the parts of the saw involved in the
injury. Describe whether the victim is the operator, helper, or bystander. Where the
incident occurred (home, school, at work, etc.). What the injury was and how severe
was the injury. Include the following important informa tion:
•
•

•

•
•

Explain in a step by step manner the tasks required to set up and use the saw
(i.e. plug in wall, turn on saw switch, set guards, adjust the blade, etc.).
Describe in detail the exact task being performed by the victim such as types
of cuts (crosscutting, ripping, dadoing, beveling, or mitering), sizes and types
of stock (rectangular, square, block, stick, molding, metal, wet, dry, hard, soft,
etc.).
Provide details of the victim’s hands, feet, and body in relation to the stock
being cut. Did the victim reach behind the blade for any reason? Be sure
about the location of the victim’s hand because lacerations and sometimes
amputations resulted when the victim failed to move the hand as it came into
the path of the blade.
Describe whether the victim used a push stick or a hand to guide the stock into
the blade. Hand or finger contact with the operating blade occurred frequently
because the victim was using a hand to guide the stock.
Use ATTACHED DATA RECORD SHEET to obtain specific information
associated with table saw related incidents.

B. Description of Incident Environment
Describe all relevant information on environmental factors such as lighting, its
location and intensity, slippery floor/debris on the floor, or debris on work surface.
Make note on the areas around the table saw, considering free movement for the saw
operator. Visually examine (DO NOT PERFORM AN OPERATIONAL CHECK
OF THE SAW) signs for abuse, broken, missing saw teeth, bending, damage,
misalignment, or other problems on the saw.
Inspect the saw mechanism, owner manual, or other available material for UL
labeling or other listings of certification. Report presence or absence of the UL
labeling or listings of certification. Photograph these indications and transcribe
information on them. If none of these indications are found, include a statement
indicating this in the investigation report.

C. Description of Interaction between Injured Person(s) and Product
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Determine the incident sequence and the exact position where the saw, stock,
or flying debris contacted the victim (lower arm, wrist, hand, finger, lower
trunk, lower leg, head, face, eyeball, or neck).
Describe the position of the victim’s left and right hands with respect to the
saw and the stock, just before the incident , and right at the time of the incident.
Indicate how stock was fed into the saw.
Specify if the victim was reaching.
Specify whether the victim was holding stock firmly or loosely.
Describe whether the victim is right-handed or left-handed or he/she uses both
hands interchangeably.
Indicate whether the victim was wearing safety goggles, gloves, or other
special clothing at the time of the incident.
In the victim’s opinion what caused the accident?

D. Description of Product (Involved in the injury)
Provide the following detailed information on the saw:
• Saw classification (provide front, rear, and side photograph) manufacturer,
model number, and serial number or any other identification number.
• Manner in which the saw was acquired: new, used, rented, or borrowed.
• Age of the saw (if acquired used, state number of years owned and total age, if
known).
• Condition of the saw, maintenance level, or previous repairs or modifications
(pay special attention to repairs made shortly before the incident).
• The condition of blade at the time of the incident (sharp, dull, missing teeth,
or something else).
• The height of the blade above the saw table (write down the number) at the
time of the incident and indicate how this height was measured (saw gauge,
ruler, eyeball it, etc.)

•
•

The presence or absence of blade guard and anti-kick back on the saw.
If any safety devices (especially the blade guard) were absent, ask why they
were removed or missing.

111. Photographs/ Diagrams of Incident Scene
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•
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•

Photograph the table saw front, side, and top views and how the stock was
supported.
Provide close-up photos of labels, controls, safety devices or guards, and offon switches.
Have victim pose for photo that depicts his/her position (WITHOUT
POWER ON THE SAW), as well as the position of the stock/material being
cut, at the time of the incident.
Include close-up photo of the blade involved, that shows the type and size of
the teeth.

IV. Obtaining samples and documents related to the investigation
• Photocopy the owners’ manual and attached it to the report.
• Collect any official records associated with this incident that may be available.

(DATA RECORD SHEET – Attached)

DATA RECORD SHEET
Investigation Guideline
PRODUCT:_Table/Bench Saw_______________
TASK NUMBER __________________________ INCIDENT DATE ___________________________

1. Describe the saw involved in the incident. Was the saw mounted on a table or a bench
or was it portable?
_____ Mounted on a table or bench

____ Portable
_____ Other, Specify:_____________________________________________________
______ Don’t

Know

2. About how old is the saw?

3.What is the brand name (manufacturer), model name/number, and horsepower of the
saw?

4. Had the saw been changed or modified in anyway since you got it? How was the saw
changed or modified? Who did it?

5. Was the motor running at the time of the accident? (Determine if the saw had just
been turned “on” or “off”).

6. Does the blade have a safety switch (removable or stationary) such as a key lock that
must be activated, in addition to the start switch, before the saw can be turned on?

7. Is the saw blade belt driven or direct drive?

8. Was the operator actually cutting, about to start cutting, at the end of a cutting
operation, pausing during a cutting operation, at the time of the incident?

9. How long had the operator been working with the saw that day before the accident
occurred?

10. What was the operator cutting at the time of the incident?

11. What type of cutting was the operator performing at the time of the incident? Had the
operator been cutting the length of the stock, cutting the width of the stock, or cutting the
stock at an angle, or cutting the stock in some other way?

12. Does the operator use a different type of blade for different types of cutting
operations?

13. What type of blade was being used at the time of the incident? Was it a crosscut
blade, rip blade, combination blade, dado blade, plywood/paneling blade, metal cutting
blade or other (please specify)?

14. What was the diameter of the saw blade (in inches)?

15. What was the condition of the blade at the time of the incident? Was it sharp, dull,
had teeth missing or something else?

16. Was the blade guard attached to the saw at the time of the accident?

17. At the time of the incident, did the blade guard function properly? (Whether the
guard returned quickly to its normal position or was slow to return and hung up).

18. What was the shape of stock/material being cut? (e.g. rectangular, square, molding,
stick…).

19. What was the length, width, and thickness of stock/material being cut?

20.What was the condition of stock/material?

21. Describe how stock/material was supported.

22. Did the whole surface of stock/material fit on table or did it extend beyond?

23. Was stock/material or the support firmly anchored?

24. Was the operator pulling, pushing, or holding stock/material at the time of incident?

25. Was the fence (Figure 1) used to guide stock/material?

26. Was stock/material held securely against the fence during the cutting operation or was
it wobbling or shifting?

27. What was the height of the blade above the table? How was this height measured
(saw gauge, ruler, other)?

28. Was there an anti-kickback and spreader assembly (Figure 1) attached to the saw at
the time of the incident?

29. Is the operator right-handed or left-handed or does he/she use both hands
interchangeably?

30. Was the operator wearing eyeglasses, safety goggles, gloves, or any other special
clothing at the time of the incident?

31. How many times during the last year has the operator used the saw?

32. Was the saw assembled when purchased or did the operator have to assemble it
him/herself?